Skanska has reached a major milestone on the M42 Junction 6 scheme near Birmingham, opening the A4545 link road and the new motorway junction 5a to traffic for the first time on Wednesday, December 18.

The new 2.4km dual carriageway, part of a three-year project for National Highways, aims to alleviate heavy congestion at the busy M42 junction 6. The A4545 now connects junction 5a with the Clock Interchange roundabout, offering direct access to key regional destinations including Birmingham Airport, the NEC, Birmingham International train station, and Birmingham Business Park.

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Initially, the road has opened with a single lane in both directions, with full operation expected by spring. The project underscores the importance of the M42 corridor as a major transport hub and is designed to enhance connectivity and reduce travel times in one of the country's busiest areas.

Jason Gostling, Highways Operations Director for Skanska said: "The team has worked extremely hard and it's fantastic to achieve this important milestone. In addition to the 2.4km of road we've also built four new bridges that span the dual carriageway along with 1.1km of slip road.

"This has been a complex project to design and deliver, especially given the close proximity to Birmingham Airport. The road has been sunk into the ground to minimise the noise and impact on the local communities and environment. Close to a 1,000,000m3 of soil has been excavated to achieve this and 80,000 shrub and tree whips planted. Once grown these will further help screen the road.

"I'm immensely proud of the whole team for all their efforts."